New, old to mix at Tonganoxie Days

Tonganoxie Days organizer Connie Torneden said it’s hard to fathom that the annual festival has been around for nearly three decades.

On Friday and Saturday, the 27th installment of the summer festival will take place in downtown Tonganoxie.

“It doesn’t seem like it’s that many, but it is,” Torneden said.

The event will have its mainstays: the Leavenworth County State Barbecue Championships on Friday and Saturday at the Leavenworth County Fairgrounds and vendors, a fun run/walk, children’s games and musical performances Saturday throughout downtown.

But there will be a few new musical acts with Christian country singer ShyAnne Mailen and the Good Sam Band performing for the first time at Tonganoxie Days. The Grandmaster Tae Kwon Do group from Bonner Springs will perform, as will historical characters from First City Performers and Story Tellers (PAST).

Torneden said Thursday she had between 80 and 90 vendors signed up for the festival.

She said several merchants also are planning to have tables or sidewalk sales set up for the event.

“We’re just hoping that the weather holds out,” Torneden said, “a nice dry day, and hope a lot of people come out for it.”

Teams will start setting up for the barbecue contest Friday and judging will start at noon Saturday.